White House Nominates LBJ School Professor as Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary

July 30, 2007

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AUSTIN, Texas—Benjamin Sasse, assistant professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, has been nominated by President George W. Bush to be assistant secretary of health and human services for planning and evaluation, pending U.S. Senate confirmation.

Sasse serves as counselor for policy and strategic initiatives to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt while on a leave of absence from the LBJ School. 

“The LBJ School is delighted that the President has nominated Ben Sasse to be assistant secretary for planning and evaluation,” said James B. Steinberg, dean of the LBJ School. “Ben has been a well-respected and valued member of the LBJ School faculty. He will provide not only a depth of experience, but also keen analytical skill to this post. His service to the administration is a reflection of all of our faculty’s commitment to serving the public interest.”

The assistant secretary for planning and evaluation is the principal adviser to the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on policy development, and is responsible for major activities in policy coordination, legislation development, strategic planning, policy research, evaluation and economic analysis.

Prior to coming to the LBJ School, Sasse was chief of staff in the Office of Legal Policy at the U.S. Department of Justice. Sasse received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, master’s degrees from St. John’s College and Yale University, and doctor’s degree from Yale.

For more information contact: Jeff Patterson, 512-232-4220.